The Quintessential Tanchjim Experience

Here's the third in-depth review out of three for my previous Tanchjim brand history post. We'll be going over the Tanchjim Fission Black with detailed measurements.

All measurements should be taken with a grain of salt and should not be viewed in absolute terms; any major consideration for each measurement will be commented on.

The Fission Black retails at an MSRP of $170; the regular Fission for $130.

Accessories

The Tanchjim Fission Black comes with a decent selection of accessories: two sets of tips (one with narrow bore, one with wide bore and shorter), a Tanchjim branded pouch, a 4-core modular cable (3.5mm, 4.4mm, and DSP USB-C), a total of 3 removable nozzle types., and a metal tool for the tuning switch. . The provided tips are nice and since there are two types, it is possible to find the ideal fit and sound using only these. The cable is good and relatively soft and easy to handle.

The accessories are acceptable for the price. I feel like at this price, a hard case should be included, and the lack of Tanchjim's own T-APB tips is a bit disappointing. However, the modular cable is an exciting and very useful inclusion.

Build Quality and Comfort

Just like the 4U, the shell just works. It's small and will fit most people, and so far, the glass faceplate hasn't scratched at all. The nozzle lip is around 6.3mm, 4.8mm at the base, and is extended enough to allow for both shallow and deep fit. The 2 pin socket is what I would call semi-recessed: most 2 pin cables, recessed or flat, will actually fit and look nice. The Fission Black also has some additional vents near the 2 pin socket.

The comfort of the Fission is excellent. The IEMs practically disappear in the ear, and the mediocre isolation makes it less tiresome to wear. There's no pressure or driver flex or weird sensation.

The removable nozzles are well implemented and do not get loose or rattle. They are also hollow, so additional modding is possible by putting different filters and materials inside.

Objective Sound

The tuning is similar above 1 kHz to the Bunny and Origin where the sub bass is reduced, in turn highlighting the mid bass. The ear gain is located at 2.7 kHz.

The channel matching is quite good, with both channels on two units being quite close to one another. The largest difference is around 0.25 dB between 500 to 2000 Hz and is inaudible.

The insertion depth variation can be seen, and should be taken with a large grain of salt. On my specific unit, the treble is very controlled in terms of compounding effects of driver and ear canal resonances.

Distortion shows no notable problems or concerns.

Subjective Sound Quality

The sound of the Fission Black is excellent and is in my opinion the most refined Tanchjim house sound IEM.

The bass is mostly charaterized by mid bass punch and tone. The sub bass is dropped by a decent amount, but compared to other similarly tuned IEMs, the rumble is still present. In general, the bass presentation manages to have enough mid bass to give everything a nice punch and warmth without being muddy or bleeding into the mid range. While the tone and overall contribution of the bass to the rest of the tuning is the highlight, the bass quality itself is no slouch.

The mid range is where the Fission Black shines, just like every other Tanchjim IEM. Combined with the bass and low mids warmth, it has a very pleasant timbre and vocal presentation. Compared to other Tanchjim products however, the midrange is actually not as forward. Vocals and instruments have presence but are also tame and very natural, which results in a sound that is incredibly organic while still maintaining a good level of detail.

The treble is is where the Fission Black differentiates itself from other Tanchjim IEMs and the competition. It is very smooth and does not suffer from potential weird peaks like the Bunny. Extension is quite good but the same relaxed sound carries on, with details that come across easily without being overbearing in terms of treble quantity. As seen with the insertion depth measurements, the treble response remains fairly consistent.

All together, the sound of the Fission Black is quite darker than the usual neutral and bright leaning sound of Tanchjim products, but with the same refinement and high level execution.

Comparisons

Dunu Kima 2

Both occupy the same price bracket and both are small and comfortable IEMs. They both also have a similar tuning that is mid bass focused with some relatively relaxed treble and midrange. The Fission Black had slightly better bass impact, and the treble was also smoother. The Kima 2 has a tamer midrange which makes it rather warm and less fatiguing in the long run.

I prefer the Fission Black, not because of the sound quality since they are rather close, but because it is a lot more versatile with all of the tuning options.

Tanchjim Origin

The Fission Black is, to me, a warm variation on the Origin that fits better and is more customizable. The Origin has more detail and is brighter, with an emphasis on vocals and clarity, while the Fission Black comes off as more relaxed with very good bass.

The Origin holds a special place in my heart due to its place in Tanchjim's history and its beautiful design, but the Fission Black is the one I go for most of the time thanks to its better fit.

Conclusion

As I said in my long Tanchjim history post, I think that the Fission Black is the most complete Tanchjim package, with flagship sound, driver, features, and shell. Top notch comfort, top notch sound, top notch Tanchjim; if you want the defining Tanchjim experience, this one is it.